Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nyesom Wike, to stop his impeachment plot against the Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The INC stated this in a statement issued by its National President, Prof Benjamin Okaba, on Sunday.
The INC condemned the crisis in Rivers occasioned by moves by the state House of Assembly to impeach Fubara believed to be orchestrated by Wike.
Okaba, in the statement titled, “Rivers Crisis: Let Governor Siminalayi Fubara Be”, urged Tinubu to ensure that the FCT Minister sheathed his sword and unconditionally support Fubara to succeed in the governance and development of the state.
He said it was imperative for Tinubu to rein in the former governor of Rivers because political instability in any state had the potential to distract his administration.
He maintained that Fubara served Wike as a faithful labourer and therefore deserved the backing of the FCT minister as a reward for his loyalty to Wike.
Okaba said, “We call on Mr President not to relent in his well-calculated effort to prevail on his cabinet member, Mr Wike, to sheath his sword unconditionally and support his own beloved godson to succeed. This is because political instability in any state of the federation could be a source of distraction for his administration.”
The Ijaw leader also expressed disappointment over the position of the Rivers State PDP Elders Forum and some partisan groups for refusing to be on the side of truth in the entire drama.
According to him, the Ijaw nation was standing by Fubara because he had received applause from all sections of Rivers and had not committed any crime to warrant the impeachment onslaught against him.
“The Ijaw nation remains profusely grateful to Mr Wike for making our son Governor of Rivers State. However, it might be necessary to state for the records that Mr Wike enjoyed love and political benevolence from an Ijaw son, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who appointed him as minister and later aided him to be governor of Rivers State.
“Wike’s godson, Siminalayi Fubara also served him in several strategic capacities as a very loyal and diligent confidant. As a faithful labourer, he deserves Mr Wike’s reward by way of support and providing the enabling environment to function properly and maximally as the sitting governor of the state. A common African adage says that when your biological son is crowned king of your kingdom, you as a father/mother must accord him all the respect and entitlement.
“At this juncture, we wish to re-emphasise that our support for the current governor is solid and total. We can’t be detracted by characters that demand that he jettison the courageous battle he has started well. We also consider as unacceptable and appalling the demand by this group of persons for a sitting governor to publicly apologize to his godfather as a precondition for reconciliation.
“They may wish to tell Nigerians what crime Fubara has committed against River’s people outside his genuine desire to properly manage the commonwealth of the state”, Okaba said.
The apex Ijaw socio-cultural organisation advised the governor to realise that he owed Rivers and Niger Delta people a duty to remain strong and steadfast in his quest for justice and stability of the state, adding that God is mightier than all his foes.
The INC further stated: “As crucial stakeholders in the Rivers State project where the Ijaws remain predominant in 13 out of the 23 local government areas, we must join other ethnic groups in championing the cause of ensuring that due diligence, peace and fair play prevail and that no man should play god in the affairs of men.”